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New Mexico State blows out New Mexico for 5th straight win over Lobos

But once the ball tipped, it was all Aggies in Round 2 of the Rio Grande Rivalry. NM State blew out UNM 100-65 Tuesday night at the Pan American Center as NM State continue to control the rivalry with UNM.

Jojo Zamora, pushes down court with UNM's Vance Jackson, during the first half of the NMSU/ UNM game at the Pan American Center, Tuesday December 4, 2018. NMSU beat UNM 100 to 65. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

An New Mexico State University Aggie Fan holds up a cut out and fake one dollar bill with Paul Weir's face on it, using these to taunt the UNM coach during the game, Tuesday December 4, 2018. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

New Mexico State University's Ivan Aurrecoechea, slaps his chest after scorring against the University of New Mexico, during the first half of the game at the Pan American Center, tuesday December 4, 2018. Aggies beat the lobos 100 to 65. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

AJ Harris, (12) heads down court as Anthony Mathis, (32) guards him , during the first half of the New Mexico State University/ University of New Mexico game, Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

Chris Jans, headcoach at New Mexico State University yells to his players as University of New Mexico headcoach Paul Weir watchs his team with a look of frustration. Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

Chris Jans, headcoach at New Mexico State University talks with AJ Harris during the final minutes of the NMSU, UNM game. NMSU beat the University of New Mexico Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center, 100 to 65. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

University of New Mexico's Dane Kuiper looks for an open teammate during the first half of the Lobo's game against the Aggies at the Pan Amercian Center, Tuesday December 4, 2018. Aggies beat the Lobos 100 to 65. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

New Mexico State University's Terrell Brown, pushes past University of New Mexico's Anthony Mathis, during the first half of the game at the Pan American Center, Tuesday December 4, 2018. Aggies beat the Lobos 100 to 65. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

Jabari Rice, (10) passes the ball to Jojo Zamora,(4) as he pushes past Lobo's Tavian Percy, (4), during the first half of the New Mexico State University/ University of New Mexico match up, Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center. Josh Bachman/Sun-News

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AJ Harris, (12) heads down court as Anthony Mathis, (32) guards him , during the first half of the New Mexico State University/ University of New Mexico game, Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)Buy Photo

LAS CRUCES - There was a pregame scuffle between New Mexico State and New Mexico.

But once the ball tipped, it was all Aggies in Round 2 of the Rio Grande Rivalry. NM State blew out UNM 100-65 Tuesday night at the Pan American Center as NM State continue to control the rivalry with UNM. It was the Aggies' fifth straight win the series and third straight in Las Cruces. The Aggies' current win streak over the Lobos is NM State's longest since the Aggies won five straight over UNM between 1954-56.

"It's special," said NM State forward Eli Chuha, who will graduate 5-3 in his career against UNM. "I can't really describe it, but it's a special feeling to get the sweep on them. I proud of Coach (Chris) Jans and the prior coaches I was with that put together a good game plan to get that sweep."

NM State's 35-point win is one of the largest in the series and the team's first 30-point-plus victory since the Aggies beat the Lobos by 31 (103-72) in 2006.

Aggies coach Chris Jans is the first NM State coach to start 8-0 in rivalry games and is the first Aggies coach to start 4-0 against UNM since Robert R. Brown started 4-0 against the Lobos in 1922-23. The Aggies' 7-1 start is their best the 2013-14 season when they also started 7-1.

NM State led 50-22 at halftime and led by as much as 30 in the first half. UNM (4-2) came into Tuesday fifth in the nation in effective field goal percentage, but the Aggies held the Lobos to just a 23 percent (7 of 30) field goal percentage in the first half. NM State coming into the game was not good in effective field goal percentage defense at 282nd in the nation at 54.7 percent and held UNM to 36 percent (18 of 61) for the game.

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Jabari Rice, (10) passes the ball to Jojo Zamora,(4) as he pushes past Lobo's Tavian Percy, (4), during the first half of the New Mexico State University/ University of New Mexico match up, Tuesday December 4, 2018 at the Pan American Center.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

At one point in the first half, NM State was shooting 3 of 17 and missed 10 straight field goals, but led 16-2. The Aggies then found a offensive grove, shooting 12 of 15 in the final 9:32 of the first half. NM State went on a 21-3 run that put the Aggies up 41-12 and NM State finished the first half shooting 46 percent (15 of 33), 5 of 11 from three and 15 of 21 from the free throw line.

UNM's full-court pressure and trap was ineffective all night.

Coming into Tuesday night, the Aggies had a double digit lead in three out of their past four games in the first meeting at UNM, UTEP and Washington State, but all made comebacks on the Aggies. NM State never allowed UNM to get back into the game and led by as much as 41 midway through the second half.

"That's good to see and it's progress," Jans said about not letting UNM back in the game. "That's a great point. We have had some big leads and haven't been able to stretch it out. Teams have come back against us and made it pretty hairy there at the end. That's progress and hopefully that'll boost our confidence."

NM State senior JoJo Zamora had struggled since scoring 15 points in the season-opener against New Mexico State. He had only scored a combined 23 points in his last six games. But Zamora broke out for a season-high 27 points on 9 of 10 shooting and 6 of 6 from three, one made 3-pointer shy of his career high.

"It was good," said Zamora, who never said he lost confidence. "I have been down a couple a games. I just have to stick with the process had a good one tonight."

Ivan Aurrecoechea scored the Aggies' first seven points of the game and dominated inside. Aurrecoechea scored a season-high 23 points on 6 of 7 shooting and 11 of 15 from the free throw line with 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the year. It was the second time this year NM State has had two players score 20 or more points, which also happened at UNM earlier in the season.

Chuha, who returned after missing the last two games with a back injury, was the third Aggie in double figures with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

NM State dominated on the glass 50-29 and only allowed nine UNM offensive rebounds.

"Speechless is what I told the team after the game," UNM coach Paul Weir said. "Speechless, sick to my stomach, humiliated, embarrassed. So many things I could elaborate on. But unfortunately, at this point in time, it is going to remain a incredibly humiliating defeat. And we have to move forward."

Pregame scuffle

As the teams took the floor for warmups about an hour before tipoff, there was a pregame scuffle between the Aggies and Lobos. Both teams had to separated.

Neither head coach was down there and prior to the game, both coaches got word that there was a scuffle.

"Obviously I haven't had time to investigate it, but we will look it and address it if need be," Jans said.

Said Weir: "I don't know what prompted it or know enough details to comment about the specifics of who started it or what was involved. I was incredibly disappointed and I explained that our team after the game. We spoke at length prior to the game about being emotionally stable and just competing. I don't want prompted or who had to do with what. But regardless I was extremely disappointed in whatever that happened to be."